You Are Free! Dr. Andy Woods
Questions Answered Who wrote it? Paul Who was it written to? Galatian believers Where was it written from? Syrian Antioch When was it written? A.D. 49 Why was it written? Counteract the Judaizers teaching sanctification by works
3 Phases of Salvation Justification: : freedom from sin s s penalty Sanctification: : freedom from sin s s power Glorification: : freedom from sin s s presence
Questions Answered What is inside? Autobiography, doctrine, application What is it about? Sanctification attained the same way as justification How does the book apply to daily life? How to be holy
Introduction (Gal 1:1-10) Greeting (Gal 1:1-2) Gospel (Gal 1:3-5) Denunciation (Gal 1:6-10)
Greeting (1:1-2) Paul s immediate focus on his apostleship (1:1) Paul s message was consistent with what the other apostle s taught (1:2)
Gospel (1:3) 1:3 Grace: unmerited favor Peace: positional (Rom 8:1) experiential (Philip 4:6-7)
Gospel (1:4-5) Problem: our evil age Solution: the Gospel Christ gave Himself Rescues us from the present evil age Our present sanctification is God s will Our sanctification glorifies God
Denunciation (1:6-10) The departure (1:6) The false gospel (1:7) The test for truth (1:8) The judgment (1:9) The response to criticism (1:10)
The Departure (1:6) The reality of apostasy Paul s amazement-the Galatians departed: From grace Quickly The best doctrine
Definition of Apostasy apos = away from histēmi = to stand Apostasy = to stand away from Apostasy = a departure from known (or previously embraced) truth
Apostasy is A Massive NT Subject Gospels (Matt 13) Early church (Acts 20:29-31) Pauline letters (Rom 16:17-18; 18; Gal 1:6-9; 2 Cor 11:1-15; 15; Philip 3:2, 18-19; 19; Col 2:8; 1 Tim 4; 2 Tim 3 4; 3 Titus 1:10) General letters (Heb 2:1-4; 2 Pet 2 3; 2 Jude; 1 John 4:1-6) Revelation (2 3)
Apostasy Impacts Every Major The faith (1 Tim 4:1) God (Jude 4) Christ and His death (2 Pet 2:1) Christ s s return (2 Pet 3:3-4) Sound doctrine (2 Tim 4:3-4) 4) Resurrection (2 Tim 2:16-18) 18) God as creator (2 Pet 3:5) Doctrine
Apostasy Knows No Limits Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3) and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdom, let everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek it of Him (Prov. 2, 3). Everyone shall exercise himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein. Rules of Harvard in 1636; quoted in David Barton, Original Intent, 81
The Departure (1:6) The reality of apostasy Paul s amazement-the Galatians departed: From grace Quickly From the best doctrine
Apostasy Can Happen Quickly Gal 1:6- I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel. Exod 32:8- They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I have commanded them (Italics mine; see also Exod 24:18).
The Departure (1:6) The reality of apostasy Paul s amazement-the Galatians departed: From grace Quickly From the best doctrine
Apostasy Knows No Limits Aaron (Exod( 32:1-10) 10) Jonathan (Judges 18:30) Ephesus (Rev 2:4-5)
The False Gospel (1:7) Some are disturbing you Not another gospel A distortion/perversion
The Test for Truth (1:8) Truth is determined by consistency with prior revelation (Duet 13:1-5) Truth is not determined by miraculous occurrences
Satanic/Demonic Miracles Exod 7 8 Deut 13:1-3 Matt 7:21-23; 24:24 Acts 8:9; 16:16 2 Thess 2:9 Rev 13:3, 13; 16:13-14
The Test for Truth (1:8) Truth is determined by consistency with prior revelation (Duet 13:1-5) Truth is not determined by miraculous occurrences
The Judgment (1:9) Paul re-emphasizes that truth is determined by consistency with prior revelation Those preaching a different message under divine condemnation
Paul s Response to Criticism (1:10) Criticism-Paul s gospel is too easy Response-Paul is: A slave of Christ Seeks to please his master and not men
Denunciation (1:6-10) The departure: apostasy from the gospel (1:6) The false gospel: works sanctification (1:7) The test for truth: consistency with prior revelation (1:8) The judgment: anathema (1:9) The response to criticism: Paul s slavery to Christ (1:10)